Museums in Metro Manila
Painting of Rizal's execution at the national hero's shrine and museum in Fort Santiago |
Between hitting the malls or visiting a city museum, chances are visiting the museum will always be set aside for another day. The reasons for not choosing to take a peak in a museum ranges from getting turned off in paying entrance fees to the idea that they’re too “old school”. However, old is what makes museums relevant. As for the fees, think of them as your contribution to preserve the past for future visitors.
Manila is surrounded by museums – government and private owned. Each has unique treasures from different eras that we can only read in history books. The museums are also homes to our heroes. Thanks to museums they have secured their immortality. Here's a good list of Metro-Manila museums waiting for your visit.
The National Museum of the Filipino People
Former Finance Building, Padre Burgos Street, Rizal Park, Manila
+632-5270278
Open: Monday-Saturday, 8:30am-5pm
Entrance Fee: P100
By Jeepney: Located on Rizal Park (Luneta), it's just walking distance from LRT U.N. Avenue station or via jeepneys passing by Taft Avenue or Mabini.
Going to National Museum: from Makati, it's best to drive towards Roxas Boulevard then turn right on P. Burgos (after passing Rizal Park/Luneta). The museum in on the right, near the corner of Taft Avenue and across the National Art Gallery. Parking is available at the museum compound.
National Art Gallery
Former Senate Building near The National Museum and Manila City Hall, Burgos St. Manila
Travel Note: Centerpiece of Juan Luna's Spoliarium and various other artworks
By Jeepney: From Quezon City or Quiapo, better take jeepneys with signboards of Mabini and Get off in front of the neo-classical building.
Rizal Shrine and Museum
Fort Santiago, Intramuros, Manila
Travel Note: Features memorabilia of Jose Rizal, Philippine National Hero, which includes his Mi Ultimo Adios poem written on a piece of paper (now laminated) and the famous lamp where the poem was neatly hidden before the hero’s execution.
By Jeepney: Board a jeepney in Quiapo with signboard Pier and Get off in front of Palacio del Gobernador near Manila Cathedral. A short walk towards the gate of Fort Santiago.
Entrance Fee: P50 student, P75 adults.
Archdiocesan Museum of Manila
121 Arzobispo St., Intramuros, Manila
Free Entrance
Metropolitan Museum
Roxas Blvd near Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Travel Note: Visit also Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas Gold Room, a walk-in vault underneath the Metropolitan Museum with impressive collection of old paintings and ancient gold ornaments of pre-hispanic Filipinos.
By Jeepney: Board the orange shuttle at LRT Vito Cruz station going to CCP Complex. Get off at the corner of Roxas Blvd and Pablo Ocampo then walk towards BSP gate
+632-7087829, 708-7827 / 521-1517
BSP Money Museum
Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas
Roxas Boulevard corner Pablo Ocampo St., Manila
By Jeepney: Board the orange shuttle at LRT Vito Cruz station going to CCP Complex. Get off at the corner of Roxas Blvd and Pablo Ocampo then walk towards BSP gate
+632-7087701
Manila Central Post Office compound, Lawton, Manila
Travel Note: It is the oldest museum in Southeast Asia. The museum showcases priceless stamps from the Philippines and from different countries around the world, letters written by national heroes and other famous personalities and an archive preserving precious stamps and artifacts kept under a secure and controlled environment
+632-5279601 or 9607
Ayala Museum
Makati Avenue corner Dela Rosa St., Makati City
Travel Note: Admirers of the late Benigno and Corazon Aquino will always have a good reason to visit the museum as it regularly hosts the exhibit of these inspiring political icons’ life and times complete with photographs, video footage and even the clothes that they’ve worn when they changed the course of Philippine history.
+632 7577117 to 21 loc 28
www.ayalamuseum.org
Makati Museum (Museo Ng Makati)
Address: P Rizal St. cor. A. Mabini St., Makati
+632-8185223
Open: 8AM-5PM, Mondays-Fridays
Entrance is Free
Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino (CCP Museum)
A humanities museum that has displays on the works of Filipino traditional artists and preserves Filipino artistic traditions. Permanent exhibits include significant Filipino artistic traditions and the CCP Collection of Traditional Asian Musical Instruments from the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, Thailand, China and South Korea. Exhibit hours are extended to 10pm if there are performances at the Main Theater.
Entrance Fee: P40 for adults, P30 for students and children
832-5094, 832-1125
museo@culturalcenter.gov.ph
www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/page.php?page_id=93
Makati Museum (Museo Ng Makati)
Address: P Rizal St. cor. A. Mabini St., Makati
+632-8185223
Open: 8AM-5PM, Mondays-Fridays
Entrance is Free
Museo ng Kalinangang Pilipino (CCP Museum)
A humanities museum that has displays on the works of Filipino traditional artists and preserves Filipino artistic traditions. Permanent exhibits include significant Filipino artistic traditions and the CCP Collection of Traditional Asian Musical Instruments from the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, Thailand, China and South Korea. Exhibit hours are extended to 10pm if there are performances at the Main Theater.
Entrance Fee: P40 for adults, P30 for students and children
832-5094, 832-1125
museo@culturalcenter.gov.ph
www.culturalcenter.gov.ph/page.php?page_id=93
MalacaƱang Museum
Kalayaan Hall – the old Executive Building built in 1920– at the heart of the MalacaƱang Palace complex
Open: From Monday to Friday, 9AM-4PM
+632-7364662
Travel Note: by appointment only. See details on the official website
By Jeepney: From Quiapo, ride a jeepney going to San Miguel (terminal near Ilalim/ Quinta Market)
Yuchengco Museum
G/F RCBC Bldg, Ayala Avenue corner Gil Puyat Ave (Buendia)
Makati City
By Jeepney: From LRT Buendia Station, board a jeep going to Guadalupe and Get off in front of RCBC Tower (after crossing Ayala Avenue). Alternatively, from MRT Buendia (Gil Puyat) station, board a jeep going to Washington or bus with LRT/Leveriza to take you there (Get off in front of The Columns condominium before crossing Ayala Avenue then walk to the other side)
+632-8891234
San Agustin Museum
San Agustin Church, Intramuros, Manila
By Jeepney: Board a jeep bound for Pier in Quiapo and get off in front of Manila Cathedral.
Lopez Museum
Exhange Rd, Ortigas Center, Pasig City
Travel Note: Huge collection of rare books and art pieces on display and research purposes. This also has the largest collection of both Juan Luna and Felix Hidalgo paintings as well as Rizal artifacts
By Jeepney: from MRT Ortigas Avenue station, it's just a short taxi ride away.
Bahay Nakpil Bautista,
432 Ariston Bautista St., Quiapo, Manila
Travel Note: With artifacts of Gregoria "Oryang" de Jesus, the widow of Andres Bonifacio, who re-married Nakpil. The original home of Juan Luna's "the Parisian Life" now on display the at GISI Museum
By Jeepney: board a jeepney bound for Quiapo then Get off at the corner of Hidalgo and Quezon Blvd. Walk towards Hidalgo (East side going to San Sebastian) then turn left on Barbosa St.
+632-3455755
AFP Museum
Camp Aguinaldo, EDSA, Quezon City
Travel Note: Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo’s uniform and hand-written letters of Apolinario Mabini.
Interior of a Huey helicopter at the Villamor Airbase Museum |
Aerospace Museum of the Philippine Air Force (PAF)
Sales Street corner Andrews Avenue, Villamor Air Base in Pasay City near NAIA Terminal 3
Entrance Fee: P20. Jet simulator fee between P75 and P150.
Museo ng Katipunan
Formerly Museum of the Philippine Revolution
Pinaglabanan Memorial Shrine, San Juan
The UST Main building in Espana, Manila |
The UST Museum of Arts & Sciences
Mezzanine, Main Building, University of Santo Tomas
+632-7811815
Open: Tuesdays-Fridays, 9AM-4:30PM
Entrance fee: Students - PhP20.00 / Adults - PhP30.00
Bantayog ng mga Bayani Museum
Quezon Avenue near corner EDSA
Travel Note: Museum dedicated to the victims, heroes and martyrs of Martial Law under President Ferdinand Marcos
By Jeepney: It's walking distance from MRT Quezon Avenue Station, near the jeepney terminal plying the EDSA -UP route. From Quiapo, you may ride jeepneys with Fairview / Lagro signboard.
Veterans Federation of the Philippines’ Museum, Library, Archives and Theatre
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City
Travel Note: Displays of tableaus and pictures of war veterans particularly guerillas and Peftok (Philippine Expeditionary Force to Korea) veterans (Korean War)
Open: Mondays-Fridays 7AM-4PM, Closed during lunch time
Entrance fee: P75 for adults and P50 for students.
+632-8389148
Museo Pambata ng Maynila
Roxas Boulevard corner South Drive, Manila
Travel Note: Children will have a fun time discovering the environment, science, crafts, the global village, etc. via hands-on exhibits and interactive displays
Open: Tuesdays-Saturdays, 8AM-5PM, Sundays, 1-5PM
By Jeepney: Jeepneys in Quiapo with signboard Pier will take you there after passing by Intramuros and South Harbor gates. Alternatively, from LRT UN Avenue Station, walk towards Padre Faura St. and board jeepneys going to Pier, Get off at the corner of South Drive, cross Roxas Boulevard towards the children's museum.
+632-5231797 to 98; +632-5360595
exhibits@museopambata.org
National Commission for Culture and the Arts
633 General Luna Street, Intramuros, Manila
+632-5272192
By Jeepney: Jeepneys in Quiapo with signboard Pier will take you there. Get off in front of Manila Cathedral.
Jorge B. Vargas Museum and Filipiniana Research Center
Roxas Avenue, University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City 1101 Philippines
+632-9281927, +632-9818500 loc 4021-24
Open: Tuesdays-Sundays, 9AM-4PM, Mondays closed
Entrance fee
PhP 20.00 - UP students, alumni, faculty and employees
PhP 30.00 - Non-UP
Free - Every Wednesdays for UP students, alumni, faculty and employees for a group less than 10.
vargasmuseum@up.edu.ph, vargasmuseum@yahoo.com, vargasmuseum@gmail.com
Marikina Shoe Museum
J.P. Rizal St,Barangay San Roque, Marikina City
Open: 8-12 to 1-5PM Monday-Sunday (Closed on Holidays)
Entrance Fee: P20 per person
+632-4309735
Marikina Doll Museum
Marikina Sports Complex, McDonald’s corner Sumulong Highway,
Barangay Sto. NiƱo, Marikina City
Entrance Fee: P25.00
Open: Everyday, 8AM-12NN and 1-5PM
+632-4309733, +632-4309735
Iglesia Ni Cristo Museum and Gallery (INC Museum)
INC Central Office, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City
Travel Note: Exhibits posters and dioramas depicting the Iglesia's beginnings, culture, rituals and practices.
By Jeepney: From Quiapo or MRT Quezon Avenue station, hail a jeepney bound for Fairview and get off in front of the church.
Gamaba Museum
4/F Tesoro's Handicraft Shop, 325A. Mabini St., Ermita, Manila
Travel Note: Honors the life and achievements of the National Living Artists Awardees of the Philippines (Gawad sa Manlilikha ng Bayan or Gamaba).
Open: Monday-Saturday, 9AM-7:30PM/Sundays 10AM-7PM
+632-5243936 to 40.
Museo Valenzuela
Subdivision 1, Brgy Marulas, Valenzuela City
Travel Note: Features life and memorabilia of the Katipunan particularly Dr. Pio Valenzuela from whom the city was named. The museum is beside Our Lady of Fatima Shrine
Museo De Sta. Ana
Poblacion, Taguig City
Travel Note: The repository of artifacts detailing the rich religious culture and history of Taguig since 1857
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